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----------Heyoka
- Marklar |
| STYLE |
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Downtempo
dubstep and glitch-hop instrumentals. Marklar sees the prolific
Heyoka refining his dense, driving, energetic sound as well
as exploring some dance floor beats a little more than previously.
The signature acidic zaps and fizz, dislocated melodic motifs
and lumbering beats are all strongly in evidence. Pumping
basslines morph from warping sub-bass depths to gritty,
gurgling effected lines of thinner tone - often with more
than one layer present. Synths warble, pulse and percolate
in the mid frequency range forming a busy latticework of
sound upon which playful high frequency lines dance and
strut. The middle section of the album sees Heyoka picking
up the tempo with some crisp drum and bass grooves - here
the thematic material takes on a fresh flicker and flutter
in juxtaposition to the undertow of the heaving basses below.
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| MOOD |
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Maklar
has an unrelenting dynamism about it - compulsive rhythms
of an almost primal nature defying even the uninitiated to
remain unmoved. Once the d'n'b rhythms kick in there is an
almost chemical elegance that arises - nimble geometric arrangements
among the peripheral ephemera and frenetic marginal detail
that call to mind the structured chaos of nature. The use
of so much imaginative sound manipulation and sonic mangling
gives Marklar a distinct flavour; Sonic effects for Heyoka
being not so much embellishments as central elements to the
music. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
This
disc arrives in a slim glossy digipack with no unpleasant
plastic to spoil the artwork, the CD sitting inside a card
pocket on the right panel. The front cover features an intricate
graphic wherein fractal fronds and self-replicating patterns
swirl and entwine, rising up from the depths of some obscure
infinite blackness. Sections of the imagery here are tinted
with rich colour whereas the rest of the package remains in
sharp monochrome. Track titles are found on the back cover
and again inside. Additional information includes website
addresses, production credits and label details. |
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| OVERALL |
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San
Francisco's Andrei Olenev delivers his latest release once
more via US label Muti Music. This is the second full length
album from the artist we know as Heyoka, the previous Pineal
Dub along with EP Gate
Code having also been reviewed at Morpheus. No less than
eighteen tracks make up this current offering with titles
such as 'boom', 'doodle', 'fractalscape', 'grit' and 'the
big trippy thing' aptly capturing the nature of the music.
Promotional material from Muti Music points out that "Heyoka
made his brand international this year playing festivals in
Australia, Canada and being ever present at US club nights
& festivals." |
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
This
is an album for lovers of downtempo psychedelic music that
appreciate dizzy complexities set to primal beats. Marklar
is a must for Heyoka fans - the inventiveness of this artist
is on a cresting wave at present and sound quality is top
notch. If you want to hear for yourself what the excitement
is all about, why not catch the Marklar promo mix at Heyoka's
Myspace blog here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=126846130&blogId=525454973 |
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| AUDIO |
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Coming
soon. |
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----------The
Moving Dawn Orchestra - Dials |
| STYLE |
|
Electro-acoustic
contemporary classical instrumentals. Dials is a graceful
suite of four mid-length compositions with minimalist sparsity
and contemporary beauty. The wistful pianos, rich with reverb;
the sombre string textures and the absence of percussive beats
give the music a seductive timelessness. The aural equivalent
of grain and surface damage further develop the engrossing
atmospheres creating a feeling that is nostalgic, introspective
and melancholy. Brittle chimes, subtle static and sonic haze
suggest a fragility in places. At other points the music takes
on a more dense ambience, the synthetic elements rising to
the surface, ponderous, dreamy. There are passages where a
subdued male voice whispers deep within the mix, acoustic
guitar finger-picking rolling around twinkling electronic
patterns. For me the first and last tracks hold the greatest
appeal - here the neo-classical elements and dust laden effects
combine most strikingly - hold the imagery, absorb the mood,
be transported. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Dials
is more than a simple CD presentation - it's really a piece
of art - a limited edition, hand made multi-media package.
There are to be only fifty copies of this limited CD, and
each will be unique. Along with the disc there is an eight
page booklet, a four sided postcard sized 'photo album' display,
a badge, a scroll and business card. Everything has a delightful
antique effect to it giving the pack a feeling of classy elegance;
Fluid Audio are really setting a high standard in this department.
The photographs throughout are grainy images with scratched
surfaces: monochrome landscapes, personal keepsakes, ephemeral
details. The disc itself is held within a handprinted card
folder. Mine arrived in an envelope along with a handful of
aromatic cloves giving the items a gorgeous faint odour of
spice. |
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| OVERALL |
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UK
based Guy Andrews is already well known to many music fans
as the ambient electro-acoustic jazz act 'iambic'. Having
been approached by Daniel at Fluid Audio originally to create
an EP of fours songs each around eight minutes in length
representing the seasons of the year, Guy found that a new
sonic identity was emerging somewhat distinct from iambic.
In some ways the EP was closer to his earlier iambic²
sound. On his new
website Guy explains "When I realised this, and
also that the iambic project had moved far away from this
sound, I figured that I had to make a new alias to release
this under. The Moving Dawn Orchestra is the product of
that chain of thought." The resultant shared vision
is one of intense mournful beauty combining contemporary
'organic orchestral soundscapes' and complementary electronic
enhancements. The four pieces:- Spring: Hymn/Hymn, Summer:
Keep Still, Autumn: Between Hands, Winter: Silhouette are
also to be available as digital downloads - but you won't
want to miss the physical item - really! The release is
dated for 01/03/10. Visit the Fluid
Audio Store for details. |
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| AUDIO |
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----------Jazz
Computer.org - Life - Unfolding |
| STYLE |
|
Ambient
synthetic instrumentals with jazzy influences. Life - Unfolding
is a suite of six compositions that flow together into a
unified whole. Spacey synths are central to the sound of
this album - smooth, silken layers of tone that are used
to establish an expanse, to suggest gentle undulating motion,
to build entrancing harmonious drone beds and shifting sound
clouds. Passages of beatless, floatation are set amongst
sections of lazy, peaceful beats. Strongly effected lead
guitar at times provides dreamy chord forms embellished
by lustrous chimes such as Concealing Brightness. Air and
Water Laps, on the other hand finds a far more dynamic lead
style driving over a burbling synth sequence that seems
to build almost imperceptibly from the atmosphere. In these
more active moments Yves' appreciation of 70's prog rock
can be noticed among the jazz based structures. The artist's
own promotional material explains: "With intensive
use of synths (and no samples or loops, except for the percussions
which are sampled instruments), the jazz elements of this
music are to be found in the harmonics and chords used,
and the way guitar improvisations are played."! |
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| MOOD |
|
Life
- Unfolding is a very restful album - whether drifting weightlessly
on airy electronic wafts and currents or flowing with the
greater urgency of the rhythmic portions of the music, the
emphasis is primarily one of pleasant tranquillity. The music
also has something of a sense of wonder - often a dreamy,
natural optimism. There is a constant warmth that runs throughout
the album imbuing the pieces with a glowing serenity that
nicely enhances the relaxing nature of the harmonies. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
The
cover art to Life - Unfolding is a rather beautiful artificial
landscape. Here a craggy mound juts out into a still body
of deep blue water burnished with subtle ripples. The eye
is drawn among the stark forms of the rocks to an elegant
purple leaved tree at the crest of the crag. This unusual
life form is lit by a bright shaft of sunlight that sets the
clouds into chiaroscuro and bathes the central portion of
the scene with a radiant glow. Complementary text picks up
the hue of the foliage completing the prime design. |
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| OVERALL |
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Jazz
Computer.org is the work of Yves Potin a lover of progressive
rock in the 1970s and later a great fan of jazz and jazz
fusion. Yves is an accomplished jazz guitar player, having
played since his childhood. He has also enjoyed working
with computer based music since the early days of the Atari
ST. Jazz Computer.org presents albums for free download
via the artist's website, where currently you can discover
six releases dating back to the debut album of 2006. Life
- Unfolding sees the artists exploring a more deeply ambient
soundscape than previously, wherein deft guitar improvisations
play in concrete juxtaposition. The six pieces here owe
a debt of inspiration to ambient master Thom Brennan that
can be noted in the delicate softness of the multi-layered
pads and drones. |
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Life
- Unfolding is an album that straddles spacey ambient and
jazz guitar genres, with a somewhat new-age relaxational
vibe to it. This is music for listeners that enjoy the warm
softness of layered synth drones with the additional interest
value of electric guitar improvisation. Why not visit the
official website and listen to the samples at www.jazzcomputer.org
. |
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| AUDIO |
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----------Alpha
Wave Movement - Cosmic Mandala |
| STYLE |
|
Ambient
space and Post-Berlin school electronica. The latest release
from Alpha Wave Movement is a two-part smooth, soaring collection
of synthetic music with relaxing beats and twinkling sequences.
Ambient atmospheres support melodic progressions and optimistic
themes - in places there are lead lines that are dynamic,
improvisational affairs demanding the attention, in other
places warm sequential patterns come to the fore. Long free-form
passages of beatless meandering are interspersed among the
more rhythmic material - expansive, galactic interludes serene,
expectant. These occasionally morph imperceptibly into motion
as cycling structures crystallise, the regularity of arpeggio
forms building into multi-layered complexities and dispersing
once more. Asian percussion metallics form ponderous muted
beats among the more lively programmed grooves and there are
some moments of hand drumming. The latter part of the EP is
without percussive beats; here the waves and washes of layered
tone are given momentum via broad, clean sweeps and gleaming
lattice works. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
This
CD arrives in a jewel case with a single sheet insert. Prime
space is given to a galactic diagonal splash framed in a dark
disc of space. This centre piece sits upon a lighter space,
held in place by a geometric band. The Rear cover holds track
information and AWM contact details. Within are relevant credits
an email address and a gear list - the text is laid out upon
a further galactic backdrop faintly illuminated by a faded
mandala design. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Cosmic
Mandala is the latest EP from Gregory Kyryluk working here
under his Alpha Wave Movement alias (he also has released
music under the project titles Open Canvas and Thought Guild).
This release is a two part recording: the first in five
sections totalling around twenty three minutes; the second
section of around ten minutes sees a more ambient approach
with a greater concentration of international instrumentation.
The CD can be purchased via the Harmonic
Resonance Recordings website and is available for digital
download via CD Baby, Planet Origo, iTunes and Amazon. Samples
of the music can be heard at most of these sites. Gregory
describes his music as "Fusing inner & interstellar
ambient teutonic musical elements into a harmonious tone
capsule for the adventurous listener yearning for their
next sonic enlightenment". |
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----------Mythos
- Unabsteigbar! |
| STYLE |
|
Bright,
beat driven electronica. Stephan Kaske delivers a live performance
of his unique post-Berlin school synthetic groove. Programmed
beats maintain mid-tempo pace for much of the album, mostly
with a bright spring in the rolling patterns. The beats are
accompanied by sequencer structures that carry the rhythms
with almost equal prominence - arpeggios and percussives entwining
and enhancing one another. Melodic content is strong; positive
themes with clean tones interlock with the rhythmic underplay.
At times heavily altered voices murmur among the more digitally
oriented sounds, ethnic chimes and clangs punctuating the
percolating sequences. There are a number of atmospheric passages,
mostly during the introductions where the music is softer,
more airy. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Unabsteigbar!
arrives in a DVD style case of malleable plastic. The insert
folds so that artwork is visible both inside and out. The
front cover has a lone figure in stark silhouette trudging
across a barren landscape with flat horizon. Everything is
saturated in deep red hues, the walker ringed with an incomplete
pale circle. The rear cover extends the scenery leftward and
has a live photograph of the artist inserted midway. Track
titles are found here on the back as well as brief technical
details and the Mellow Jet logo. Inside is a panel of recording
information, website addresses and credits. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Mythos
shows once again that the sound of Stephan Kaske is pretty
much as dynamic and complex live as it is when given the
full studio treatment. This collection of five mid-length
tracks was recorded live at EM-Breakfast in Bochum and totals
about forty five minutes altogether. This latest release
via the Mellow Jet label follows up the previous live album
Gallery Concerts. If
you'd like to get an idea of what to expect - there is a
Youtube
video that shows the multi-instrumentalist at work. Promotional
material provides an on-tour equipment list for those interested
in the sound sources: Laser-Keyboard, Flute, Electronic
Bagpipes, Yamaha Tenori-On, Korg Vocoder VC-10, Quasimidi
Raven Max, Quasimidi Sirius, Quasimidi Polymorph, Quasimidi
309, Korg M1EX, Mutron Bi-Phase, Korg Kaoss Pad, Yamaha
Spx90-II, Yamaha mixer & monitoring system. |
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----------Robert
Rich - Ylang |
| STYLE |
|
Eastern
influenced ambient and melodic groove. This deep, lush album
has a magical oriental flavour to it; heady, beguiling and
full of sonic colour. Languid beats that combine the soft,
dreamy pads of southern India's mrdungam played by Sakthivel
Muruganandhan with the restrained drum style of Ricky Carter
propel the compositions at an hypnotically leisurely pace.
Rich flute lines thicken the air - sensual, introspective
melodies that seem to curl and unfurl like morning mists.
Rich's distinctive lap steel guitar can be heard in places
- an organic strain drifting among the subtle electronic beds.
Bird sounds enhance the exotic nature of the music - gentle
parrot squeaks and calls that juxtapose the breathy voice
of Emily Bezar wordlessly wafting among the instrumentals.
Sparse piano touches and lustrous chimes twinkle in places
whilst violins and cellos introduce a stirring grace; the
concluding First Rain luxuriating in the combined strings
of Forrest Fang and Paul Olguin. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Ylang
is an attractive digipack presentation - three matt card fold-outs
with disc held centrally. The artwork comprises a series of
photographs of beautifully crafted natural sculptures: twined
twigs and mosses with leaves overlaid and flower blossoms.
These arrangements are mostly laid out on white backgrounds,
warmly lit and unobstructed by text. The only information
is delivered on the rear cover: track titles with associated
times, a brief paragraph on the inspiration for the music,
collaborating musician credits and gear list. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Ylang
is the first solo studio album from Robert Rich in three
years. Having said that, the list of contributing musicians
is impressive: Ricky Carter: drums; Sakthivel Muruganandhan:
mrdungam; Sunilkumar Sankarapillai: bansuri; Haroun Serang:
guitar; Emily Bezar: voice; Forrest Fang: violin; Hans Christian:
cello; Paul Olguin: upright bass - not forgetting the parrots.
Rich himself plays flutes, lap steel, piano, percussion,
MOTM modular & synths. The nine tracks here feel saturated
in earthy tranquillity, luxurious and blissful. It's hard
to convey the level of beauty and feeling inherent in this
music - you really need to hear the album for your self
- the Robert
Rich website contains samples, go and listen, you'll
likely be delighted.
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